Cabinet catch



Nov. 24, 1953 F. GERsoN CABINET CATCH Filed April 18, 1952 /JTTRNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1953 CABINET CATCH Fred Gerson, Elmhurst, N. Y., asslgnor to Akron Hardware Mfg'. Corp. poration of New York Woodside, N. Y., a cor- Application April 18, 1952, Serial No. 283,040

Claims. (Cl. 292-75) This invention relates to a cabinet catch and more particularly to a cabinet catch of the type having a resilient roller engageable with a cabinet panel or catch plate to hold the cabinet door in closed position while at the same time allowing the door to be opened against the pressure exerted by the roller.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet catch in which a roller and the spring means which resiliently urges the roller into engagement with a cabinet panel are quickly and easily assembled in the supporting frame and which may be readily disassembled to permit replacement of the roller or spring-both assembly and disassembly being accomplished without the use of tools. Another object of the invention is to provide a catch in which the roller will operate without binding or sliding over the engaging surface in the event the catch is tilted at an angle to the engaging surface or strike. Still another object is to provide a catch structure in which the roller pin or shaft is free to rock rearwardly about either end of the shaft so that the roller will assume a parallel alignment with the surface of strike in the event the catch is tilted at an angle to the strike or engaging surface. A further object is to provide a catch frame having L-shaped recesses inv opposite side walls thereof adapted to receive the ends of the roller shaft, whereby the roller and shaft are easily inserted and removed from the catch frame by movement through the recess, while when in position within the recess, the roller is held against accidental dislodgement by the action of a spring means. Still a further object is to provide a generally U-shaped spring member having forwardly-extending arcuate arms that engage opposite end portions of the roller shaft so that the roller may be rocked rearwardly about either end of the shaft against the urging of the spring member. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

An embodiment of my inventionr is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is` ar perspective view of a cabinet catch incorporating my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the catch; Fig. 3, across-sec- Y tional side View of the door catch and catch plate in position upon a cabinet door;l Fig. 4., a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig.y 3; and Fig. 5, an exploded perspective view show.- ing the parts of the catch in spaced-apart relation. o

Briefly, the doorcatch of my invention includes a frame or body portion I0, a spring II, and a roller and shaft assembly I2. The frame I 0 isformed with a top wall I3, side walls I4 and I5, and a rear wall I6 provided with an inwardly-struck cleat I'I. The side walls I4'and I5 are equipped with integral flange portions I8 and I9. The flanges I8 and I9 have elongated apertures 20 and 2I therein which receive screws 22 for holding the catch securely to a cabinet door. VThe elongation of the slot or aperture permits the catch to be accurately aligned before the screws 22 are finally secured tightly in place.

The side walls I4 and I5 have forwardlyextending ears or lips 23 and 24 formed integrally therewith. Each of the ears 23 and 24 is provided with a channel or recess or way 25 and 25. The recesses or ways are L-shaped and each has a base 21 and a stem 28.

The roller assembly I2 includes a roller 29 which may be made of. any suitable material, but preferably it is formed from a resilient material that will permit the roller to roll smoothly and noiselessly over an engaging surface without marring or otherwise injuring the surface. The roller 29 is equipped withr a centrallyaligned axle or shaft 30. The roller 29 may be rotatably mounted upon theshaft 30, or it may tightly grip the shaft to prevent rotation of the roller with respect to the shaft. The length of the shaft 30 is such that the ends thereof are readily receivable within the L-shaped recesses 25 and 26. The width of the roller 29 is, of course, somewhat narrower than the space provided between the spaced-apart ears 23 and 24 so that it may be received therebetween.

The spring memberv II has a U-shaped portion 3| having integral elongated arms 32 and 33 that extend forwardly and have an arcuate shape. The arms 32 and 33 terminate in slightly bent ends that provide hooks or crooks 34 and 35. The shape of crooks 34 and 35 is such that they accommodate vthe end portions of the roller shaft 30. y l

The catch is kassembled by inserting the ends of the roller shaft 30 into the stem portion 28 of the L-shaped recesses 25 and 26. The shaft 30 and the roller 29 mounted thereon are moved through the stem portion 28 of the recesses 25 and 25 and into the base 2'I of the recesses. The spring member II is tilted so that the crooks 34 and 35 may be inserted between the roller 29 and the ears 23 and 24 and into engagement with the roller shaft 30. Y 3I of the spring member is then pressed .between the side walls I4 and I5 where it slides against The U-shaped portion,

the cleat I1 provided in the rear wall I6. The rear or U-shaped portion 3| of the spring slides against the cleat |1 until it snaps free thereof and against the rear wall I6. The cleat I1 is then effective to prevent the spring from moving in the opposite direction, since the cleat |1 will engage the U-shaped portion 3|. It has been found that it is not necessary to exert extreme care in placing the crooks 34 and 35 against the roller shaft 3D prior to and during the movement of the U-shaped portion 3| against the cleat I1. The crooks 34 and 315 are adequate to prevent the spring member from sliding free of the shaft 3|] during insertion of the spring.

Alternatively, the roller shaftfmay be inserted within the frame I by rst inserting the U- shaped portion 3| of the spring member between y the side walls I4 and I5 and against the portion of the rear wall I6 beyond the cleat I1. The roller shaft is then placed in position against the crooks 34 and 35 of the spring member and then, while in engagement, urged through the stem 28 of the L-shaped recesses and into' the base 21 of the recesses. I have found, however, that the method of assembly first described is more satisfactory and that the assembly may be eiected with less effort and there is less danger of the spring members slipping free of the roller shaft 3D.

When assembled, the catch may be secured to a cabinet door 36 (as seen in Fig. 2l) by the screws 22. The catch may be used in conjunction with a catch plate 31 secured to a stationary panel 38 of the cabinet by a screw or nail 38a. The catch plate 31 is provided with a channel 39 adapted to receive the roller 29. When ythe roller 2S is within the channel 3S, the spring member Il is slightly compressed and the roller is therefore resiliently urged against the catch plate and is effective to hold the door in closed position. The door catch of my invention can, however, be used without a catch plate 31, and to this end, a cabinet panel may be equipped with an integral groove or recess that is adapted .to receive the roller 29 when the door is in closed position.

Although the elongated slots or apertures 20 and 2| in the flanges I8 and I9 permit the catch to -be properly aligned with the surface of strike, such as the catch plate 31, it may happen that a defect in the panel (for example, a knot in a wooden cabinet door) may prevent-a screw 22 or other fastening device from being inserted in proper alignment with a screw 22 in the opposite ange. If this occurs, the frame `Iii will be tilted slightly and the roller 29 will not be parallel with the surface of strike. This is not serious in the door catch of my invention, since the independent action of the elongated arms 32 and 33'of 'the spring member II, as they engage oppositeend portions of the roller shaft 3B, permits either end of the shaft 3i) to pivot or rock rearwardly in the base 21 of the L-shaped recesses 25 and 25 'about the opposite end of the shaft, and the roller 29 is consequently self-aligning and will vaIvvaysTun parallel to the surface of strike,A To facilitate the rocking or pivoting of theroller and shaft, the roller'29 is somewhat more narrow in'l width than the distance between the spaced-apart Years' 23 and 24 of the side walls. The roller'29 is therefore free to rock within thisspace. y Y

It is an extremely simple matter to disassemble the roller v29 and shaft 30 vfrom the' frame I'El inA the event that it is necessary to replace the roller or spring, etc.

against the'roller'29 and forcelthe' shaft'll Yto It is only'necessa'ry to press move rearwardly through the base portions 21 of the recesses 25 and 26 and then through the stern portion 28 of the recesses until the Shaft 3D is free. Thus, it is seen that both assembly and disassembly are quickly and easily accomplished without the use of tools, etc.

My door catch is of simple design and is very 'inexpensive to 'produceand assemble. The frame may be stamped or otherwise formed from metal. It is also possible to construct the frame I8 of a plastic or other material, since the frame is subjected to very little stress and strain during the operation of the catch, the spring member I| resting against the solid rear wall II assuming most of the force exerted against the roller 29 as the door is closed or opened. The roller shaft 30 may be free to rotate within the base 21 of the L-shaped recesses 25 and 26, and in such case the roller 29 may be fixed to the roller shaft 3B so that there will be no relative motion therebetween. However, it has been found more satisfactory to permit the roller 29 to rotate upon shaft 3S, and also to permit the Vshaft 38 to rotate within the L-shaped recesses. The roller shaft may be provided with grooves adjacent-the ends to receive the crooks 34 and 35 of the spring member II. It is not, however, essential and a tight mating of the roller shaft and spring member is accomplished without such grooves.

The door catch may be secured to a cabinet door in any appropriate position. The catch operates satisfactorily whether it is positioned upon the cabinet door to engage a stationary top,

bottom or side wall of a cabinet, or a stationary shelf within the cabinet,

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth in considerable detail a single structure and method of assembly for thepurpose of illustrating an embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that such details of 'structure and method of assembly may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a door catch for cabinets, a frame having spaced-apart side walls adapted to receive a roller therebetween, an L-shaped channel in the forward portion of each of said side Walls and aligned to receive the ends of a roller shaft therein, the base of said channels extending forwardly to a point adjacent the edges of said side walls, a roller shaft having a roller mounted thereon supported within said channels, and a U-shaped spring having forwardly-extending arms engaging said shaft and resiliently urging the same forwardly in the base of said L-shaped channels. the stem of each of said channels extending to an edge of the side wall it is in for insertion and removal of the roller-equipped shaft from said frame.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said roller is narrowerthan the space'between said side walls, and the armsof said spring are in engagement with the end portions of said axle, whereby said axle may pivotfrearwardly about either end against the action of said spring.

3. A Vdoor catch Yfor cabinets, comprising a frame providing atop wall, spaced apartside Walls, and a rear wall abutting said side walls and forming a closure for the rear end thereof, said side walls being equipped with laterallyreceivingffastening means to secure said catch to a door, said side Walls having forwardly-extending ear portions provided with longitudinally-extending guideways, a roller axle extending into said guideways and movable longitudinally thereof, a roller carried by said axle and having its sides slightly spaced inwardly of said side walls, whereby said roller may be rocked upon said axle to cause one end of said axle to move rearwardly while the other end of the axle remains in a forward position, land a U-shaped spring having a rear portion engaging the rear wall of said frame and bowed arms extending forwardly adjacent the side walls of the frame and provided at their ends with crooks engaging the end portions of said axle.

4. A door catch for cabinets, comprising a frame providing a top wall, spaced-apart side walls. and a rear wall abutting said side walls to form a closure therefor, said side walls being equipped with laterally-extending anges having apertures therein for receiving fastening means to secure said catch to a door, said side walls also having forwardly-extending ear portions having longitudinally-extending guideways therein, an axle having its ends mounted within said guideways to permit longitudinal movement of said axle, a roller rotatably mounted upon said axle and lying slightly between and spaced from said side walls, and a U-shaped spring having a fiat rear portion resting against the rear wall of said cabinet and having forwardly-extending spring arms lying adjacent said side walls and provided at their ends with crook portions receiving said axle and normally urging said axle in a forward direction, said roller being rockable upon said axle to cause one end of said axle to recede within its longitudinal guideway while the other end of the axle remains in a forward position under the force of the spring, said latter spring arm being braced against the side wall of said frame during the rocking of said roller.

`5. In a door catch, a frame having spaced side walls providing a space therebetween, an L- shaped guideway in each of said side walls adapted to receive the ends of a roller shaft, a roller shaft equipped with a roller wit-hin said guide- .ways, and spring means resiliently urging said shaft forwardly in the base of said L-shaped guideways, the base of each guideway extending forwardly and the stern of each guideway extending to the bottom edge of the side wall for the insertion and removal of said shaft from the frame.

FRED GERiSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 17, 1922 

